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v (No Model.) 2 She'ets-Sheet 1.

C. A. vBMKSI'ROlVL GBNTBIFUGAL LIQUID SEPARATOR.

No. 355,247. Patented- Demzs, 1886.

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(No Model.) I Y 2V Sheets-'Sheet vv2.

Ci A. BACKSTRM. 'ENTRIFUGAL LIQUID SEPARATOR.

N0.- 355,2 47. Patented Dec. 28, 1886,.

UNITED STATES PATENT ErrcE.

CHARLES A. BACKSTBOM, OF TRENTON, NEW` JERSEY.

vC'ENTRIFUGAL LIQUID-SEPARATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 355,247, dated December28, 1886.`

Application filed June 15, 1F86.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LGHARLEs ABAoKsTRoM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Trenton, in the county of Mercer and State of New Jersey,have :invented certain new and useful Improvements in CentrifugalLiquid-Separators, of whichthe following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention has relation to centrifugal machines, and althoughdescribed herein in connection with a use thereof for the purpose .ofseparating cream from milk, the invention is, however, capable ofembodiment in centrifugal machines to be used for the purpose ofseparating liquids of. different specific gravities from each other andin all arts involving the necessity of a separation of liquids orliquids and solids.

Other objects of the invention, as well as its construction andoperation,will be hereinafter described, and the novel features thereofparticularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to thedrawings, Figure l is a central vertical section of acentrifugal machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2is a perspective of that portion of the machine which receives anddelivers the separated liquids. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a'modification hereinafter described, and Fig. 4'

is a horizontal section of the separating-vessel proper, said sectionbeing taken on the line X of Fig. 1.

Like letters indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

A represents the stand or frame-work of the machine; and it consists ofa single casting having openings A A2 A3 leading into the severalcompartments formed by two bridges, A4, which are cast as apart of thestand A. Within each of the bridges A4, or it may be formed as a partthereof, is a pocket, B, which serves to receive a shell, C, which isone of several parts constituting the bearing for the driving-spindle D.-Within each of the shells Gis arranged a lining, E, which, as usual inhi gli-speed spindle-bearings, is adapted, by means of perforations,slots, or otherwise, for the passage therethrough of oil or otherlubricating material, which is supplied in the upper end of the uppershell, C, which is formed in cup shape, as

Serial No. 205,288. (No model.)

at G'. the upper shell, C, and has loosely mounted thereon. thedriving-pulley F, the lower flange, F, of which is made to projectfarther than the upper ilange,in order to maintain a driving-belt inconnection therewith, the belt employed, preferably, being a round beltand departing from the machine horizontally.

From the hub of the pulley F there extends inwardly a screw, F2, whichprojects into a slot, D', formed in the spindle D, which spindle restsupon a step, G, arranged in thelower The upper lining, E, is extendedbelow shell, C, which is continued below the pocket B, and interiorlyscrew-threaded to receive an adjusting-bolt, G', having a hand-wheelsetnut, G2, mounted thereon, the bolt itself being operated by a pin orbar, G3, projecting therefrom. The upper.end of the lower pocket, B, isalso formed in cup shape, as at B', to receive a supply of oilfromthelower bearing and such oil as may escape frombetween the pulley andspindle and lower shell at the point where these last two elements abutagainst each other. The upper end of the lower lining, E, is recessed,as at E', so as (in a great measure) to prevent the escape of oilbetween the lower end of the pulley and that portion of the shell uponwhich it bears, and so as to. guide the oil along the spindle downintothelower bearing.

The upper end of the spindle is recessed, as at D2, to receive theconical end of the separator-spindle H, whereby motiongiven to the lowerspindle is conveyed to the upper spindle Y by the friction of the twoupon each other.

Within the opening formed at the top of the stand is a box, I, which issuspended by means of a rubber washer, I', set in grooves formed in theinner wall of the opening of the stand and in the periphery of the boxI. An oil-cup, I2, is also formed'in the top of the box I. It will benoticed that the box I is not strictly a bearingforthe shaft H, but thatsaid shaft is of a materially less diameter thanthe bore of the box. .Inother words, I provide this box merely for the purpose of preliminarilysupporting or retaining the shaft in a substantially vertical positionwhen at rest, and during the commencement of the rotation thereof whenin use, as and for a purpose hereinafter more fully described.

The upper end of the stand A is provided IOO with a flange or shoulder,A5, upon which is mounted the delivery-vessel .I of the machine. Thisvessel consists of a single casting, and may or may not, as desired, beporcelainlined or otherwise treated to prevent injury to any particularliquids received therein and passing therethrough. In its make-up thedeliveryvessel comprises a body portion, J, divided into two annularchambers, J' J2, by means of an inwardly and upwardly projecting flange,J5, a high-delivery pipe, J4, and a low-delivery pipe, J5. The bottom ofthis vessel is perforated, as at J5, for the passage of the shaft H, andis provided with a downwardlydepending flange, J l, adapted to fit uponthe head of the stand and rest upon the flange A5 thereof, and to besecured in such position by means of a set-screw, J 5. l

K represents the separating-vessel, which embodies one of the importantnovel features of my invention in that it constitutes in itself a coilhaving discharge-openings projected toward the center of the vessel, andbeing adapted to receive liquid vdirectly therein from areceivingvessel, L, which in this instance is formed as a part of theseparating vessel or chamber, or which may be, if desired, formedseparately therefrom and set therein, as shown by dotted lines Y,Fig. 1. The separatingvessel consists in this instance of two castings-the one, K', forming the top or cover, and the other, K, forming thebottom, body, or main portion thereof--the former being secured to thelatter by means of bolts K2, passing through the cover and intoapertures K5 formed in the body portion. (See Fig. 4.)

By reference to Fig. etit will be seen that the passages formed in theseparating-vessel involve the following particulars of disposition: Areceiving-branch, M, into which a deliverypipe, L', from thereceiving-vessel L enters. The receiving-branch extendsV radially tonear the circumference of the vessel, where itis curved, as at M', andis continued, so as to conform to the circular shape of the vessel, andnearly completelyaround the same, where it is again curved, as at M2,and directly inwardly, as at M5, and thence downwardly, as at M4, and isprovided with an outlet, as at M5. (See Fig. l.) rI`his description ofthe outlines of the passage has reference in part more particularly toits outer walls.

By reference to Fig. 4 it will be seen that the area of the passage justdescribed is enlarged inwardly on inclined (or it may be on curved)lines, so as to form openings M5, oommunicating with the interiordepressed neck portion, N, of the vessel'. Thislatter portion isprovided at its center with ahub, N', adapted to snugly fit the shaft H.In its bottom and opposite the outlet or discharge orifice M5 there isprovided a discharge-orifice, N. These outlets or discharges M5 N2 areso arranged that the former communicates with the upper annular chamber,J', of the delivery-vessel, and the latter with the lower chamber, J5,of

said vessel. The discharge-opening M5 `is represented `in Fig. 1 as aplain orifice, thedischarging capacity of which may be varied by means of a screw, P, which may be turned to cover more or less of said opening,and thus determine the quantity of liquid that shall pass therethrough.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated a modification of the means for determiningthe quantity of fluid which shall pass th rough the dischargeopening. Inthis figure the screw P is represented as simply closing a core-hole inthe casting K, and the opening M5 is screw-threaded for the reception ofa screw, Q, which is perforated, as at Q', and adapted to project intothe discharge-passage M, more or less in accordance with the capacity ofthe discharge desired, as'it is apparent thatthe more milk there isdischarged the purer the cream will be, and thus I can control thequality of the cream.

From the description above given and the detailed description of theconformation of the passage formed in and constituting theseparating-vessel, it will be seen that it is in fact a coil havinginwardly-extending branches, the entrance end of the coill being in aplane above the exit end thereof, so that by reason of the configurationof the separating-vessel centrifugal force and the attraction of gravityindividually contribute their share toward a perfect separation ofliquids of different specific gravities.

In a companion application, N o. 193, 725,

vfiled March 2, 1886, pending herewith, I have shown, described, andclaimed the combination of a coil having inwardly extending brancheswith a separating vessel. In this instance I have constructed a coilwhich is in itself the separatingvessel. I have also in this instancedisclosed other improvements in machines of this class which are adaptedto be used in connection with machines embodying a coilandaseparatingvessel, as well as in machines embodying aseparating-vessel,without a coil, and while I do not claim, broadly,

in this instance the subj ect-matter above mentioned as being comprisedin my companion application, I do not limit my invention in all respectsto a use of the same in a machine in which the separating-vessel isitself a coil.

The operation of myl invention as herein shown and described isV asfollows: By any suitable means motion is given to the spindle D, whichis by friction communicated to the spindle H, so as to cause the sameand the separating-vessel rigidly mounted thereon to rotate. `By anySuitable well-known means milk is delivered i-nto the receiving-vesselL, and-is conducted by the pipe L directly into the coil at M, where itis by centrifugal force suspended, as it were, within the coil andwithin its enlargements leading to,the exits M5. During the rapidrotation of the separating-vessel the heavier portions of the liquidtherein are forced outwardly from the center of rotation, and thelighter portions are directed inwardly through the openings M, when, byreason of the vertical walls of the neck portion N of the separatingvessel, such lighter portions are protected from the influence ofcentrifugal force while falling by gravity to the bottom, and finallyout of the vessel, through the orifice N 2 thereof, and into the lowerannular chamber, J2, ofthe deliveryvessel, and' nally out of the pipe J5thereof'. During this operation the heavier portions of the liquid passthrough the coil or coil-passage and its downward extension M4, andnally out of the separating-chamber, through the discharge-orifice M5,and into the upper annular chamber, J', of the delivery-vessel, and outof its discharge-pipe J4. When the machine is first started, the shaft Hcomes into contact with the box I at. various points, and the motion ofthe separating-chamber is irregular until a certain speed of rotation isattained, when the said shaft runs perfectly free from contact with thebox I. The lower section or shaft, D, being arranged concentrically withthe upper shaft, it will be seen that the separating-vessel is supportedand rotated wholly upon the lower end of the shaft D', and this in turnis wholly supported upon the step G, so that a minimum of friction issecured, and, what is fully as important, the separatingvessel and itsshaft are permitted to find their own center of rotation withoutobstruction from any bearings -or boxes in which said shaft rotates.

The cover K', with its receiving-vessel, is so made that it forms theupper wall of the coilform liquid-passage of the separating-vessel, andwhen placed in position the delivery-pipe L of the receiving-vesselpasses downwardly and ldirectly into the receiving end of said coil-formliquid-passage. V'Vhen, however, the receiving-chamber is made separatefrom the'cover K', it is only necessary to introduce the delivery-pipeofthe receiving-chamberV Vinto the receiving end of the coil-formliquidpassage-at the time of placing the receivingchamber upon thecover.

Hereto'fore receiving-vessels have been made for the reception of thedrum and with a lateral flange for supporting the same, and'with itsdischarge-pipes depending below and within the area of the flange. Bymyconstruction one advantage secured is that the separated liquids may bereceived in a receptacle or receptacles outside of the frame-work.

Having thus fully described my invention and its operation, what I claimis 1. In a centrifugal machine, a separatingchamber having a coil-shapedpassage pro- Y vided with outlets disposed toward the center of rotationof the chamber, substantially as specified.

2. In a centrifugal machine, a separatingchamber having a passage ofcoil form provided with outlets disposed toward the center ofthe vessel,and having an inlet to said passage arranged in a plane above the outletthereof, substantially as specified.

3. In a centrifugal machine, a separatingvessel having a passage of coilform provided with outlets projecting toward and leading into the centerof the vessel, which center is depressed below the general plane of thecoil and provided with an outlet, substantially as specified.

4. In a centrifugal machine, the combination, with aseparating-vesselhaving a passage of coil form provided with outlets disposed toward thecenter of the vessel, and having the receiving end of the coil in aplane above the delivery end thereof, of a delivery-vessel havingannular chambers arranged one above the other and each provided with aseparate discharge-pipe, substantially as specified.

5. The delivery-vessel herein shown and described, consisting of asingle casting open at the top for the reception of a separating chamberor bowl of a centrifugal machine, provided with a depending flange atits bottom for connection with a frame or standard, di-

vided into separate annular chambers, each of v which is provided with alaterally-extending discharge-pipe and provided with a central openingfor the passage of the shaft of the drum. substantially as specified.

6. In a centrifugal machine, the combination of a frame or stand havingan annular flange at its top, a delivery-vessel having a dependingflange adapted to fit theA stand, a separating-vessel and its shaft, anda boxing bored larger than the shaft and arrangedin the frame,substantially as specified.

7. In a centrifugal machine, a separatingvessel formed with aliquid-passage of coil form, in combination with a cover for the same,and with a receiving-vessel having a delivery- Ipipe extending into thereceiving end of the

